Even in death, a mother inspires her family

1:36 PM,
May 22, 2013

Written by

DAVID MANUTA

Sunday, May 12, 2013 was a difficult day for my brother, sister and me. It was our first Mother's Day without Mom. She was called home on Jan. 9.

What made the day even tougher was that May 12 was also Mom's birthday. She would have been 84. The close proximity of Mother's Day and Mom's birthday meant there always was much to celebrate plus time to grouse about how expensive greeting cards had become.

My sister, who was Mom's primary caregiver, requested a three-way telephone discussion. As soon as my sister mentioned what she wanted to do, I realized that, short of getting together at her house for a ...